Seeder.



No. 653,833. Patented my I7, 1900.

' A. V.VWILBUB.

SEE'DEB.

(Application filed Oct. 23, 1899.) (Ho Iadel.) Z-Sheets-Sheet l.

ks WITNESSES: [NI/ENIO/F.

(O. m. $1; W1 WM WM ATTORNEYS.

NTTED STATES PATE T Orrrce.

ALPHONSO V. WILBUR, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

SEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,833, dated uly 17,1966. Application filed October 23, 1899. Serial No. 7 345582. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may cancer-n:

Be it known that I, ALPHONSO V. WILBUR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSeeders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of said invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it most nearly appertains to make, use, and practicethe same.

This invention relates to improvements in seeders, and particularly tothat class of seeders which may be attached to a gang-plow.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is'a side View of a seeder constructed inaccordance with this invention and attached to a gang-plow. Fig. 2 is aside elevation of a seeder, the support ing -wl 1eel and drivingmechanism being shown in the dotted lines. 'Fig. 3 is a detail view inperspective and partly in section of the carrying-beam, thepressure-lever, and detent. Fig. 4 is a detail View in plan of thelocking device for the pressure-lever. Fig. 5 is a detail View inperspective of the means for attaching the inner end of the seeder tothe plow-frame.

Heretofore seeders of this character have depended for the pressure ofthe shoes upon and into the ground upon the springs on which they havebeen mounted. In many qualities and conditions of soils this pressurehas proved insufficient to sink the shoes. Again, in a large majority ofland it is variable in the same fields, and where the shoes have aconstant pressure the planting will be deeper in one section than inanother.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome theabove-mentioned objection and to simplify the construction.

To facilitate the description of the present invention with reference tothe drawings, I use designating letters to distinguish the partsillustrated.

Thus the letter A is used to distinguish the furrow-opening shoe. Thisis provided with the usual spout or receiver A, into which the seed aredropped from the flexible pipe-A and the seed feeding or separatingmechanism, which may be of any of the known constructions. Theseed-feeding mechanism, to-

gether with the hopper B, are mounted on the carrying-beam C, which isconstructed from the channel-beam, the flanges being turned down, asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This carrying-beam supports also theshoes A through the bracebars F, the crossbar E, and the springs D. Thebrace-bars F are shown as being formed from a continuous piece or strap,which is bolted on the carrying-beam, the rear extension passing downand being returned forward under the beam and joined to the forward endof the upper section to form an eye to receive a pivot on the plate D onthe cross-bar E. There are two brace-barsone at each end of thecross-bar. While light, the brace-bars are comparatively rigid. Thecross-bar E is formed from light angle-iron and extends across the frontof the seeder. Into the angle of this bar are butted the squared ends ofthe springs D, where they are rigidly secured by the single rivets D.This construction of the cross-bar admits of the use of a single rivetto hold the spring in line. The spring operates to relieve the shoe ofany sudden up ward lift and to permit each shoe to act independently.Each shoe is secured to its spring by the bolt F and the clip F At therear of the shoes are secured the chains G, which cover the seeds afterthe same are dropped.

The position of the shoes A with relation to the ground is governed bythe position of the cross-bar E on its hinges D. As the cross bar isrotated to throw the shoes downward an added pressure of the shoeson'the ground is applied through the springs. By rotating the cross-barin the reverse direction this pressure may be diminished and the shoesmay be raised free of the ground, if desired, as in moving the implementfrom field to field. The position of the cross-bar is regu,

lated and controlled by the lever H, which is rigidly attached to thecross-bar, as shown in Fig. 2. This lever extends backward under thecarrying-beam O and is provided with a. handle H, by which the free endis raisedand lowered to rotate the cross-bar on its hinges. This leveris locked in position on adet-ent K, which is bolted to the carryingbeam0 and is provided with a toothed edge,

as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The locking device by which the lever issecured in position is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It consists in the hollowcylindrical extension L, which is adapted to receive the spiral spring Land is provided with the slots L in the upper and lower walls, throughwhich the detent K may pass freely. Secured to the end of the extensionL is an open-sided box L, through the open sides of which is passed thelever H, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper and lower or full sides of thisbox are adapted to fit between the teeth K of the detent.

In assembling the parts the spring L is first placed in the extension L.is then placed on the lever H, the spring L then com pressed,and thedetent K inserted in the slots L when the spring is released to press onthe back of the detent and force the full sides ofthe box L between theteeth K. The parts are then in the operative position.

When it is desired to raise or lower the lever H, it is accomplished bythrowing it outward from the detent, carrying the box L with it, untilthe full sides are freed from the teeth K and compressing the spring LThe lever may now be moved up or down. When in the desired positionvertically, the lever is moved toward the detent to allow the full sidesof the box to engage the teeth of the detent.-

When pressure on the shoes Ais required, the lever H is depressed,causing a slight or heavy pressure on the ground through the medium ofthe springs D, which exert pressure in proportion to the depression ofthe lever 11. By raising the lever H as far as it will go the shoes willbe raised from the ground.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is- 1. In amachine of the nature indicated, a shoe for grooving the ground,a beamsupported upon the machine and having a substantially-vertical wall, aspring secured to said shoe and having its outer end squared andabutting against said beam-wall, and means for securing said spring tosaid beam; substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the nature indicated, a shoe for grooving the ground,an angle-beam supported upon the machine and having substantiallyvertical and horizontal walls, a spring secured to said shoe and havingits outer end squared and abutting against the said vertical beam-wall,said spring resting upon the said horizontal beam Wall, and means forsecuring the spring to the beam; substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the nature indicated, a shoe for grooving the ground,a spring supported upon the machine-frame at a point removed from theshoe and connected to the shoe near the rear thereof, and connection Thebox L 1 at. In a machine of the nature indicated, a carrying-beam, abrace-bar secured thereto, said bar having a portion resting upon saidbeam and having one end extending forwardly and its other end extendingdownwardly and then passing forwardly toapoint at which it joins saidfirst-mentioned 'forwardly-extending portion, a shoe for grooving theground, and a bar secured to said shoe and also to said forward end ofthe bracebar, whereby said shoe is supported from said brace-bar;substantially as described.

'5. In a machine of the nature indicated, a carrying-beam, a brace-barsecured thereto,

beam and having one end extending forat which it joins said'firstmentioned for wardly-extending portion,said brace-bar having aneye formed between the two forwardlyextending portions, a shoe forgrooving the ground, a bar secured to said shoe, and a pivot member inthe eye in the brace-rod and connected to the said bar secured to theshoe, whereby the shoe is pivotally supported from the brace-bar;substantially as described.

6. In a seeder provided with a suitable feeding mechanism for deliveringthe desired quantity of seed into the grooves formed by the shoes forgrooving the ground; arms ex= tended forward from the carrying-beam ofthe seeder; a cross -bar having a vertical flange, and pivotallyattached tothe forward end of the said arms; flatsquare-ended springsattached to said cross-bar with the. square end against the verticalflange to hold the springs in line; the said shoes for grooving theground suitably attached to the rear end of the said springs; a leverattached to the said cross-bar to rotate the same; and asuitable lockingdevice to hold the lever in position; substantially as described.

7. In a machine of the nature indicated, an operating-lever, a detenthaving teeth upon one side thereof, and a member embracing both thelever and detent and having movement transverse to the detent,saidrmember having parts adapted to engage the teeth of the detent andthus lock the lever in position; substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the nature indicated, an operating-lever, a detenthaving teeth upon one side thereof, a member embracing both the leverand detent and having movement transverse to the detent, said memberhaving parts adapted to engage the teeth of the detent and thus lock thelever in position, and means for yieldingly holding the said parts inengagement with said teeth; substantially as described.

9. Ina machine of the nature indicated, an operating-lever, a detenthaving teeth upon one side thereof, a hollow extension having slots inits walls through which slots said detent passes, an open-sided box uponthe extension adjacent the detent through which said bar having aportion resting upon said box the said l evei' extends, the full sidesof In testimony whereof I have hereunto set said box being adapted toengage the teeth my hand this 12th day of October, 1899.

upon the detent, and a sprin in said hollow extension and having beari gagainst said ALPHONSO WILBUR' detent and the extension to normally holdWVitnesses: the said box in engagement with the said E. F. MURDOCK,teeth; substantially as described. G. W. MARSH.

